In this section:
Climate Support
Climate Support was formerly known as the Climate Risk Information Management Farmer Association (CRIMFA)
Climate Support provides timely seasonal climate risk information support to primary producers, advisors, researchers and interested parties. To date, Climate Support has been used by over 2000 cereal, livestock, horticultural, viticultural and pastoral primary industry producers to support management decisions such as when to sow, crop inputs, crop choices, crop area, stocking rates and feed purchase.
The information provided also assists with disease control, spraying decisions and frost minimisation techniques. Producers have maximised their profits in good seasons and minimised their losses in bad seasons saving many thousands of dollars.
Listed below is the range of products and services currently available that have been developed by SARDI and its collaborators over an 8 year period.
SARDI encourages subscription to 'Farm Specific Support' and 'Paddock Specific Support in February/March as these services are specifically for the growing season. However subscription access can be arranged at any time of the year for these and other services.
Information sessions and workshops can be organised to explain the services, seasonal climate outlooks and ongoing support.
Simply browse the following products and services to find those that suit your individual or organisation's needs, fill in the order form or call for more details.
- Newsletter
- District Specific Forecast
- Farm Specific Support
- Paddock Specific Support
- Climate Risk Management Workshops
- Publications
- Australian RAINMAN CD ROM
- Flowering Calculator
- Early Season Rainfall and Wheat Yield Analyses
- StockJournal Weather Page
Subscriptions and orders
Check out the ClimateSupport brochure (.PDF) for a full list of products and services and an order form, or for more information contact Melissa Rebbeck: phone 08 8303 9639 or email Melissa.Rebbeck@sa.gov.au
1. Newsletter
We highly recommend you view the monthly seasonal outlook newsletters as they keep you informed of latest developments in climate risk management and provide the current season outlook including images and interpretation of:
- 3 month rainfall and temperature outlook and maps
- Season rainfall and temperature summary maps
- Atmospheric conditions
- 3 month pasture growth outlook
- Climate Applications Unit activities
- 1 month rainfall outlooks
- 5 month seasonal outlooks
- Weekly rainfall outloooks
Latest Climate Support Newsletter (Restricted access - email Melissa.Rebbeck@sa.gov.au for login details)
2. District Specific Support
Due to spatial variability in forecasts, the latest seasonal outlooks specific to your nearest town are provided (via email or post). These are a great support for farmers and advisors. District Specific reports are sent monthly from April through to December (9 reports in total) and can include:
- Current rainfall decile graph for closest town
- How the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) will effect rainfall in the next 3 months
- Rainfall history for the closest town
- Probability of rainfall amounts occurring at closest town
- Rainfall and temperature outlooks for 1 to 3 months for closest town
3. Farmer Specific Support
Once registered you will receive a starter pack which helps you record your daily rainfall measurements and paddock history. Rainfall measurements are required to be faxed in every 2 weeks from April to June, then monthly from July to November. In return you receive fortnightly forecast reports specific to your property (11 reports in total).
Information can be chosen from some or all of the decision support and includes:
(a) Flowering dates and frost risk
- Expected flowering dates for nominated crops
- Frost risk windows
- Heat stress windows
(b) Rainfall decile graph
- Rainfall deciles (cumulative and within season)
- Rainfall to date
(c) Stored soil water and potential yield
- Stored soil water graphs
- Potential yield tables for range of deciles and crops
Example of Farmer Specific Forecast (.PDF)
4. Paddock Specific Support
There is a choice of three different model outputs for providing fertiliser and yield information.
(a) Fertiplan
(b) Yield Prophet
(c) Yield and N Fertiliser Calculator
5. Climate Risk Management Workshops
The workshops are suitable for grains, livestock, horticultural, viticultural producers and interested parties. Learn more about:
- Forecasts for drought, frost, late breaks, strong winds and heavy rain
- How to identify opportunities in good seasons and create strategies to minimise losses in bad seasons to increase your profits
- El Nino and La Nina events - how sea temperatures and other factors affect our climate
- Climate change
- Better planning for your climate risks
- How early season rainfall and climate forecasts can be used as trigger points to implement management strategies
- Receiving ongoing access to useful seasonal climate forecasts
- Workshops with a heavy frost risk emphasis can be provided
All participants receive:
- Ongoing access to seasonal climate forecasts
- Climate Risk Management Resource Manual
- Worksheets and Info Notes for each module
- Certificate of attendance
- Opportunity for points toward a diploma from recognised prior learning.
Workshops are run over one-day from 9.00 am to 4.30 pm and contain four modules:
Module 1 - Understanding Risk
Determining how attitudes to risk are formed; Estimating actual risk on individual properties including drought, frost, late breaks, strong wind, heavy rain and humidity.
Module 2 - Understanding Weather and Climate in Southern Australia
Weather map interpretation; Understanding seasonal climate forecasts at the local level; Applications for seasonal climate forecasts.
Module 3 - Using Forecasts to Manage Climate Risk
Learning about the new development in forecasts for your region; Learning the appropriate decision support tools for your region. Climate change discussion.
Module 4 - Developing Climate Risk Management Plans
How to effectively use the information covered in earlier sessions to develop a plan for managing your climate risks.
6. Publications
SARDI's Climate Applications Unit produces publications to help farmers with climate risk management. All are available for purchase: order form (.PDF)
Managing Frost Risk: A Guide for Southern Australian Grains
Contains information about agronomic practices to reduce frost risk, frost risk decision guide, the
balancing act of delaying sowing to avoid frost risk, recognising frost damage in wheat, and what to do if your wheat has been frosted.
More information about Managing Frost Risk
Climate Risk Management Resource Manual - Version 3 January 2007
Information about understanding weather, the role of atmosphere in seasonal forecasting, understanding climate risks and opportunities, understanding climate change, price risk management, useful websites and where to gain more information.
More information about Climate Risk Management Resource Manual
Climate Risk Seasonal Outlook Pocket Guides
There are two versions of this guide for primary producers. One is for north of Goyder’s line and the other for south of Goyder’s line.
They provide 3-month outlooks that show increased chances of lower rainfall and pasture growth or higher rainfall and pasture growth. It helps you to understand:
- when to use seasonal outlooks and when to ignore them
- impact of the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) and El Niņo and La Niņa on your property
- how to access important trigger points used to recognise a better or worse season in advance.
These are available for purchase but it is recommended you attend a workshop to understand how to use them.
More information about Climate Risk Seasonal Outlook Pocket Guides
A Guide to Climate Change and Adaptation in Agriculture in South Australia
Contains projection trends and implications for agriculture plus suggestions on how to adapt.
More about Climate Change and Adaptation
7. Australian RAINMAN CD Rom
|
Climate Analysis
Reference Information
Available in Standard, Professional and Educational Editions
|
 |
8. Flowering Calulator
|
Flowering Calculator is a model, originally designed in Western Australia, which has now been validated for some SA wheat varieties including Aroon, Frame, Janz, Krichauff and Yitpi. Inputs:
Outputs
|
 |
Other Resources
Early Season Rainfall & Wheat Yield Analyses
The timing and amount of early season rainfall can be used to forecast your final wheat yield (SOWHAT program). Your annual crop area and inputs can be adjusted based on early season rainfall to maximise profits in better seasons and minimise losses in poorer seasons, leading to increased long term profitability.
Inputs:
- Daily rainfall for the last 25 years along with average and best paddock yields (in tonnes/ hectare).
Outputs:
- A series of graphs of early season rainfall against yield (see the example below). Graphs include January–March, April 1st–15th, April–May, April–June, April–October
- An indication of the probability of achieving above or below median yields
- Correlations of yield with rainfall
- Long term average rainfall and yield, and potential yield
- Best paddock yield as a percentage of potential yield
- Long term trends expressed as rolling 5 and 10 year averages
For the farmer at Booleroo (in the example below), in years when the April 1st–15th rainfall was greater than 12mm, 85% of his wheat yields were above the median.
Stock Journal Weather Page
Check out the weekly Stock Journal weather page by Melissa Rebbeck for information such as:
- Latest seasonal climate outlook
- Current pasture growth and crop forecast maps
- Current ocean and atmosphere measurements (SST & SOI)
Annual subscription to the Stock Journal can be made through Rural Press (external site)
Subscribe to Climate Support
If you are interested in purchasing any of the Products and Services please download and complete the Order Form. You can either fax or post the completed form to:
Melissa Rebbeck
SARDI Climate Applications Unit
GPO Box 397
ADELAIDE SA 5001
Phone: 08 8303 9639
Fax: 08 8303 9717
Email: Melissa.Rebbeck@sa.gov.au
